Whats In Season – October

Butternut squash has become one of the most popular forms of fresh vegetables and is now widely available in most Irish supermarkets.

It varies in shape from cylindrical to half-dumbell and has a smooth tan
colour. Deliciously sweet and nutritious it is a very versatile vegetable and can be used in sweet as well as savoury dishes. Ideal for including in roast
vegetable dishes, it is particularly good in homemade creamy rich soups and is now a regular accompaniment to apple, pineapple or pumpkin in sweet tarts.

The interesting thing about this vegetable, which made its debut on Irish
supermarket shelves a few years ago, is that it lasts a long time in storage.
Squash are amongst the longest keeping vegetables and should be kept in a
cool but not necessarily refrigerator-cold environment. Just put it away in a dry, well-ventilated vegetable storage unit. They can keep for up to three
months or more. If you keep them in storage, however, at room temperature, or in the fridge, they will deteriorate more quickly, but should be fine for at least a couple of weeks.